Bomb-droppinrgr machine



APPLICATION FILED on. 9. ms.

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mun/1 B. KILLMAN.

BOMB DROPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED on. 9. 191a.

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BOMB DROPPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9. 191a.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9,1918. I

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUD KILLMAN, OF DIXON KENTUCKY.

BOMB-DROPPING MACHINE.

Application filed October 9, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BUD KILLMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dixon, in the county of Webster and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Bomb-Dropping Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an aerial bomb dropping machine adapted to operate automatically and which can be timed to rise to approximately a predetermined elevation, then travel horizontally a desired distance and, during such travel, drop bombs successively.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient controlling mechanism for locking,

unlocking, and operating the various mechanisms.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of launching truck designed, when the aerial machine has lifted therefrom, to return to the place of starting.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means for holding the bombs in the machine and for successively releasing them.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the machine, its truck being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side of the complete machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view, a portion being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the bomb holding and releasing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77, Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the body of a truck supported by wheels 2, and mounted on the axle 3 at one end of the truck is a spring t one end of which is secured to the truck Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Serial No. 257,499.

while the other end is attached to a clutch membero adapted to be shifted into or out of engagement with a clutch member 6 on one of the wheels 2 by arod 7 or the like. By shifting this rod in one direction it will move the clutch member 5 from engagement with the member 6 and the parts can be so held by placing the rod 7 in engagement with suitable keeper 8. See Fig. 4. It will be apparent that when the clutch members are in engagement with each other and the truck is driven forward, the spring will wind and, when the forwardly moving truck is released, the wound spring will return the truck to its initial position.

The aerial bomb dropping mechanism is adapted to be supported by the truck prior to and during the launching operation and includes a body 9 carrying an engine a portion of which has been shown at 10. Mot on 1s transmitted through a pitman 11 or in any other desired manner, from this engine to a shaft 12 which extends transversely of the rear portion of the body 9,

and a sprocket 13 is secured to the shaft and drives achain 1=1 engaging a sprocket 15 on a transverse shaft 16 which is journaled in a bearing'll on the back end of the body 9. Gears 18 transmit motion from shaft 16 to a Vertical shaft 19 mounted in the bracket 17 and additional gears 20 transmit motion from shaft 19 to the shaft 21 of the propeller 22.

A worm 23 is provided at one end of the shaft 12 and meshes with a gear 24 loosely mounted on a vertical shaft 25 at one side of the body 9, there being a clutch member 26 upon this gear. Another clutch member 27 is feathered on the shaft 25 and is pressed upwardly by a spring 28. Upward movement of the clutch member 27 under the action of its spring is normally prevented by a finger 29 which overhangs a shoulder 30 on the clutch member and extends radially from one end of a longitudinal rod 31 mounted for rotation on one side of the body 1 gage and lift a locking spring 36 having a I toothed portion 37 for engaging a gear 38 on a shaft '39 extending across the body 9.

This shaft 39 has sustaining planes 40 atr tached thereto and the planes, at the beginning of a flight, are inclined so as to cause the machine to ascend. See Figs. 1 and 2. When the spring 36 is lifted by the cam, as described, it disengages the gear 38, thereby permitting the shaft 39 to be rotated and the planes 40 to be brought to another angle.

Secured to the other end of the shaft 12 is a worm 41 meshing with a gear 42 loosely mounted on a longitudinal shaft 43. This gear has a clutch member 44 and another clutch member 45 is feathered on shaft 43 and is pressed yieldingly toward the member 44 by a spring 46. A lever 47 engages the member 45, as shown, and is restrained by a latch 48 on the axle 3 of the truck, thus to hold the spring 46 under compression and the clutch members out of engagement with each other while the apparatus is mounted on the truck.

Shaft 43 has a worm 49 meshing with a gear 50 and a worm 51 on the shaft 52 of this gear meshes with a gear 53 on a shaft 54. This shaft 54 has a worm 55 meshing with a gear 56 to which is secured a plate 57 one end of which is toothed, as shown at 58. Once during the rotation of gear 56, the teeth 58 will engage and rotate a gear 59 secured to the shaft 39 and the parts are so timed that immediately prior to the engagement of the gear 59, the cam 35 will unlock shaft 39 and hold it unlocked while the gear 59 is being rotated to bring the sustaining planes to another angle. Immediately following the adjustment of the planes in this manner the cam 35 will release the spring 36 and the shaft 39 will be again locked. For the purpose of getting motion to the cam 35 a gear 60 is secured to shaft 54 and meshes with a gear 61 on shaft 34.

Supported under the body 9 are parallel rails 62 forming a channel 63 there between in which is mounted a releasing slide 64 carrying laterally extending wings 65 which overlap the rails. A cord 66 is connected to the slide and extends rearwardly to a spool 67 secured to a shaft 68 to one end of which is fastened a gear 69. This gear is engaged by a worm 70 on the shaft 25.

Openings 72 extendupwardly through the rails 62 and are preferably disposed in staggored relation. Each of these openings is adapted to receive a bomb 73 having a stem 74 provided with a notch 75. Levers 76 are mounted on the rails and are held in the notches by springs 77 while extending from the levers and into the paths of the wings 65 are projections 78. Thus it will be seen that when the slide 64 is drawn longitudinally within the channel 63 the wings 65 will successively engage and shift the projections 78 and operate the levers 76 to release the bombs.

With the parts all set as illustrated the operation of the apparatus is as follows: The engine is started and will operate the propeller, thus to drive the entire machine for- Ward. The planes 40 will lift the body 9 off of the truck when a sufficient velocity is attained and as the spring 4 is wound up during the forward movement of the apparatus it will unwind and return the truck as soon as the body 9 becomes disengaged from the truck.

When the body 9 leaves the truck the lever 47 is disengaged from latch 48 and spring 46 promptly throws clutch member into engagement with member 44, thereby coupling the gear 42 to shaft 43. As gear 42 is rotated by the worm 41 motion will be transmitted through worm 49, gear 50, worm 51, gear 53, worm 55 and gear 56 to plate 57 which will be rotated very slowly to bring the teeth 58 into mesh with gear 59 and shift the planes 40 when the machine has ascended a desired distance. Gear 61 will be rotated very slowly and operate the locking mechanism in properly timed relation as hereinbefore described. The worm 33 will rotate very slowly and operate the gear 32 so that, after the machine has traveled a desired distance, the finger 29 will release the clutch member 27 to such an extent as to allow it to engage the clutch member 26. Thus the shaft 25 is coupled to the rotating gear 24 and motion is transmitted to the spool 69 which winds up the cord 66 and releases the bombs as hereinbeforc pointed out.

What is claimed is 1. In a bomb dropping machine a body, a propeller, a motor, tiltable sustaining planes, means for locking the planes against tilting movement, means operating in timed relation and driven by the motor for successively unlocking the planes, tilting them, and positively relocking them.

2. In a bomb dropping machine the combination with a truck, of a body removab y mounted thereon, a propeller on the body, a motor, tiltaible sustaining planes, means for locking the planes against tilting movement, means operating in timed relation and driven by the motor for successively unlocking, rotating, and locking the planes. and means coiiperating with the truck for holding said motor driven means against operation while the body is upon the truck.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BUD KILLMAN.

Witnesses:

T. L. DENTON, J. M. RAYBURN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

